Salt Lake County UT Property Search: Recorder Records & Deeds

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Salt Lake County, Utah · Deeds, ownership records, liens, plats and parcel research

Salt Lake County Recorder Property Search: Find Deeds, Owners, Liens and Recorded Documents

If you landed here because you need to find who owns a Salt Lake County property, identify its deed, check recorded liens, review a legal description, trace previous documents or obtain a copy of an official record, start with the Salt Lake County Recorder property search.

The important part is using the right county system. The Recorder maintains recorded real-property documents. The Assessor is better for parcel-value research and owner-name searches, while the Treasurer handles tax notices and payments. This guide shows exactly where to go for each task.

Open free Recorder property search Recorder Data Services Can’t find the parcel?
Fastest route: if you already know the property address or parcel number, go directly to the free Recorder search. If you only know an owner’s name, first find the parcel through the Salt Lake County Assessor, then use that parcel number in Recorder records.
Free search

Address or parcel-based Recorder search without a paid account.

Paid short access

$5 for up to 150 Data Units during the 24-hour access period.

Online record range

Recorder states searchable online records extend back to March 1, 1941.

Recorder office

2001 S. State St., Suite N1-600, Salt Lake City, UT 84190.

Office hours

Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM, except holidays.

Go directly to your property-record task

Use these links instead of reading sections that do not apply to what you are trying to accomplish.

Owner-name searches

If you only know the owner’s name, find the parcel first

A common problem is arriving at the Recorder search with a person’s name but no address or parcel number. The free Recorder search is designed around an address or parcel number. The official Salt Lake County Assessor search is more useful for owner-name discovery.

Open the Salt Lake County Assessor parcel search Open official Assessor Parcel Search →
Choose the parcel-search option The Assessor system allows searches using owner, address or parcel ID.
Format an individual owner’s name correctly The county’s search guidance uses the format Last Name, First Name. The system instructs users to enter at least the first three letters when searching an individual owner.
Compare all plausible parcels Verify the property address and parcel ID. A common name can return multiple records, and one owner may hold multiple parcels.
Copy the parcel number Once you identify the correct property, copy its parcel ID and return to the Recorder public search.
Use the Recorder to investigate recorded ownership documents The Assessor helps you identify the parcel. The Recorder is the correct next stop when you need deeds, trust deeds, releases, liens, easements or other recorded instruments.
Find parcel with Assessor Then search Recorder records
Understand the result

What the Salt Lake County Recorder property record tells you

Think of the free result as a property-record index

It helps connect one parcel to its recorded-document trail. The record index tells you what was filed; the underlying deed, trust deed, lien or other instrument contains the actual terms.

Active parcel number The county identifier associated with the current parcel configuration.
Property address Useful for confirming you opened the intended location, but the legal description—not a mailing address—is what identifies land in recorded instruments.
Current owner(s) of record The ownership display associated with the county’s current property record. For legal or transaction decisions, verify the relevant recorded deed rather than relying only on a name display.
Legal description The recorded-style description that identifies the property. This can reference lots, blocks, subdivisions, sections, metes and bounds, condominium units or other land descriptions.
Recorded documents An index of instruments linked to the parcel, commonly showing an entry/document number, date and document type.
Do not confuse “current owner” with a complete title opinion. The Recorder itself states that a title search may be necessary to verify accuracy. A parcel result is useful research, but it is not a guarantee that title is clear of every possible encumbrance.
Document decoder

Common Salt Lake County Recorder document types

Salt Lake County maintains a much larger official document-type index, but these are some of the entries property owners and buyers are most likely to encounter.

Common recorded instruments and what they usually indicate
Recorder label Meaning Why you may care
WD Warranty Deed Often documents a transfer of real-property ownership with warranties from the grantor.
QCD Quit Claim Deed Transfers whatever interest the grantor has without the same warranties associated with a warranty deed.
SWD Special Warranty Deed A deed containing more limited warranties than a general warranty deed.
TRD Trust Deed Commonly records a security interest related to financing.
RECON Reconveyance / Final Reconveyance Often relates to release of a previously recorded trust-deed interest.
LIEN Lien Signals a recorded claim or encumbrance that deserves closer review.
R LIEN Release of Lien May document release of a previously recorded lien.
EASEMT Easement or Grant of Easement Can describe access, utility or other rights affecting the land.
PLAT Plat Useful for subdivision, lot and mapped property research.
NT DF Notice of Default A significant recorded notice that should be read in context with later documents.

Salt Lake County’s official document-type lookup contains many additional instrument names and abbreviations.

Search official Recorder document types
A document list is not a legal interpretation. Two instruments recorded on the same day can have completely different effects. Read the document itself—and obtain professional title or legal help when the outcome matters financially or legally.
Document images and deeper research

How to get the actual deed, lien or recorded-document image

The free public search is best for identifying the parcel and its document trail. Salt Lake County Recorder Data Services provides deeper property-record access for people who need document images, ownership history, parcel-number history, legal descriptions, tract-index research, chain-of-title tools, subdivision maps or plat maps.

Free Public Search

Best when you only need to identify the property and see its basic recorded-document list.

Use free search
$5 / 24-Hour Access

The Recorder currently describes this option as up to 150 Data Units during the access period. It is designed for occasional research.

Review access instructions
Data Unit Packages

Intended for researchers needing continuing access. Current package prices and account instructions are published by the Recorder.

See current packages

Micro-guide: from free result to document image

Run the free property search first Identify the exact parcel and the document you want before spending money on deeper access.
Copy the entry/document number and recording date Also note the document type. These details help prevent opening the wrong deed or release.
Open the Recorder Data Services page Compare free, temporary and regular-account options.
Open Data Services →
Choose the lowest access level that completes your task Occasional users generally do not need a long-term package merely to inspect a small number of records.
Locate the recorded image and compare identifiers Confirm the document number, recording date, parties and legal description before relying on the instrument.
Recorder guidance says documents recorded before 2:00 PM are typically available as images by the next working day; newly recorded subdivision plats can take longer.
Official copies

How to order a Salt Lake County deed or certified Recorder copy

You do not necessarily need a subscription if your goal is simply to obtain a copy of a specific recorded document. Salt Lake County Recorder has a dedicated document-copy request process.

Published Salt Lake County Recorder copy fees
Copy type Published fee Typical use
Recorded document copy $2 per page Ordinary copy of a recorded document.
Historical / vault document $5 per page Older documents held in the Recorder’s historical collection.
Certified copy $5 certification + $2 per page When an official certified Recorder copy is required.
Ownership & description printout $1 per page Printed ownership and property-description information.
Lined parcel, subdivision or GIS plat $5 per page Mapped parcel or subdivision research.
Identify the document before ordering Use the free property search or Data Services to find the entry/document number, date and document type.
Open the official document-request page Open Recorder Document Request →
Complete all required document and requester fields Incomplete information can prevent the order from being processed.
Select certified only when you actually need certification A certified copy costs more than an ordinary document copy.
Review the request before submitting The Recorder states that the requester is responsible for fees associated with the order as submitted.
Watch for the Recorder’s completion email The office processes requests in the order received and sends notification when the order is ready.
Fees can change. Confirm the current amount on the official Recorder Requirements & Fees page before submitting a paid request.
Parcel location

Use the new Salt Lake County Recorder interactive parcel map

The Recorder’s GIS/Cadastral Department moved its tax-map information to a newer interactive mapping platform based on the county’s Parcel Fabric. The county says updates to the old static plat-page maps have been discontinued, although historical versions remain available through Data Services.

Open the official interactive parcel map Open Salt Lake County Recorder Interactive Parcel Map →
Locate the property or parcel Use the available map-search tools to center the correct area.
Compare neighboring parcels and mapped configuration The map is particularly useful when street addresses are ambiguous or when researching subdivisions and surrounding parcels.
Take the parcel number back to the Recorder search Mapping identifies the parcel visually; Data Services and recorded instruments provide the document history.
Do not treat an online tax parcel map as a boundary survey. When a legal boundary, encroachment, easement or acreage dispute matters, use recorded documents and the appropriate licensed professional rather than estimating from an online map.
Avoid the wrong portal

Recorder vs. Assessor vs. Treasurer: which Salt Lake County office do you need?

Route each property question to the office that controls it
Your question Best office Official next step
Who is shown as the owner? Assessor or Recorder Use Assessor for owner-name parcel discovery; use Recorder to verify the recorded-document trail.
What deed transferred this property? Recorder Search recorded documents.
Are there recorded liens or releases? Recorder Review the parcel’s document index and the underlying instruments.
What is the county’s property value? Assessor Use the Salt Lake County Assessor.
What property taxes are due? Treasurer Find the tax notice.
How do I pay property taxes? Treasurer Open the official payment system.
Is the title clear? Title professional / attorney Recorder records are research evidence, but the Recorder does not issue a clear-title determination.
Why this matters: an assessed owner name, a recorded deed, a tax-billing account and a title determination are related, but they are not the same thing. Use the county record that answers the specific question you are trying to resolve.
Troubleshooting

Salt Lake County Recorder search not finding the property?

Most failed searches come from using the wrong identifier, not selecting the dropdown result, searching a newly changed parcel, or using an address that differs from the county record.

Select the auto-populated result. The Recorder specifically requires the address or parcel number to be selected from its suggestions.
Try the parcel number. Parcel IDs are generally more reliable than variations in street formatting.
Find the parcel through the Assessor. This is especially useful when you only know the owner’s name.
Remove unnecessary address details. Apartment, unit, directional or street-type differences can interfere with a match.
Check for parcel changes. Subdivision, combination or other parcel changes may mean an older document is tied to a prior parcel identifier.
Use the interactive parcel map. A visual search can help establish which parcel actually covers the location.
Allow for recent recording lag. Recorder information can be delayed, and document images may not appear immediately after recording.
Contact Data Services. Recorder staff can help with system access and record-search routing when the public search is not enough.
Find parcel through Assessor Open parcel map Contact Recorder
Older deeds and parcel history

How far back do Salt Lake County Recorder records go?

The Recorder states that its current online searches extend back to Book 262, Page 1, Entry Number 899028, recorded March 1, 1941. The office also maintains substantially older historical material and has been working on digitizing its vault collection back to 1850.

This distinction matters when researching an old house, historic tract, mineral interest, long chain of title or property that has changed parcel numbers repeatedly. A normal online parcel search may not reveal every historical step.

For pre-1941 or difficult historical research

Begin with the modern parcel Establish its current parcel number, legal description and newest recorded deed.
Work backward through deed references Recorded instruments can reference earlier entry numbers, book-and-page citations or predecessor parcels.
Use paid Data Services when tract or chain research is necessary Data Services includes research options beyond the basic free parcel document list.
Contact the Recorder for records not readily available online Provide as much information as possible: current parcel number, legal description, owner names, approximate recording period, document type and any book/page or entry reference already found.
Clear title and liens

Can the Recorder search tell you whether a Salt Lake County title is clear?

Not by itself. Salt Lake County explains that the Recorder’s Office maintains the recorded documents, but clear title is not determined by the Recorder. A title search is a broader review of the recorded history and may be performed by a title company or qualified title professional.

Good use of the Recorder search

Identify deeds, liens, releases, trust deeds, reconveyances, easements, plats and other instruments that appear in the parcel’s recorded history.

Do not use it as a substitute for

A professional title examination when buying, lending, resolving an ownership dispute or making another decision that depends on legally verified title status.

If you see a lien followed by a release, or a trust deed followed by a reconveyance, read the actual instruments and compare document references. Similar labels alone do not prove that every obligation affecting the property has been resolved.
Property protection

After finding your property, consider Salt Lake County Property Watch

Salt Lake County Recorder promotes Property Watch as a free notification service that alerts property owners when a document is recorded against their property. It does not prevent a filing, but it can help an owner learn about newly recorded activity.

Useful for homeowners

Receive notice when a recorded change appears on your property record instead of repeatedly checking Recorder records manually.

Use the county service

The Recorder specifically promotes its Property Watch service as free, so homeowners should be cautious about paying an unrelated company merely for a similar notification service.

Open Salt Lake County Recorder resources
Recorder office

Salt Lake County Recorder contact information

Salt Lake County Recorder’s Office
2001 South State Street
Suite N1-600
Salt Lake City, Utah 84190
Phone and hours

385-468-8145
Monday through Friday
8:00 AM–5:00 PM
Closed weekends and applicable holidays

Before contacting the office: have the parcel number or property address ready. If your question concerns a particular deed or lien, also include the document type, entry number and recording date if you already found them.
Official Recorder contact page Recording requirements & fees
Frequently asked questions

Salt Lake County Recorder property search FAQs

What is the official Salt Lake County Recorder property search?

Use the official Salt Lake County Recorder Public Search. It is the county-operated starting point for a free parcel-based review of recorded-property information.

Is the Salt Lake County Recorder property search free?

The basic public property search is free. Salt Lake County also offers paid Data Services when you need deeper research or document-image access.

Can I search Recorder records using an owner’s name?

The free Recorder search is centered on an address or parcel number. If all you have is a person’s name, use the Salt Lake County Assessor Parcel Search first to identify the parcel.

How do I find a Salt Lake County deed?

Search the property in the Recorder Public Search, locate the relevant deed in the recorded-document list, note its entry/document number and recording date, and then use Data Services or the official document-copy request when you need the actual image.

Can I see whether a lien is recorded against a property?

Recorder records can contain liens, releases, judgments, trust deeds and related instruments. Review the complete document sequence rather than assuming a single lien entry tells you the property’s current title status.

Does the Recorder search prove who legally owns a property?

The system can display current owner-of-record information and recorded documents, but the county warns that information can be delayed and a title search may be required for verification. When ownership must be established for a legal or financial transaction, review the controlling recorded instruments and obtain appropriate professional assistance.

How far back are Salt Lake County property records available online?

The Recorder says online searches currently extend back to March 1, 1941, beginning with Book 262, Page 1, Entry Number 899028. Older records may require historical or vault research.

How much is 24-hour Salt Lake County Recorder Data Services access?

The Recorder currently lists a $5 24-hour option for up to 150 Data Units. Larger packages are available for regular users. Check the official Data Services page before purchase because pricing and account procedures can change.

How much does a certified deed copy cost?

The Recorder currently publishes a certified-copy charge of $5 for certification plus $2 per page. Verify the current fee on the official document-request or Recorder fees page before ordering.

Where do I look up the assessed value or property tax bill?

Use the Salt Lake County Assessor for assessment information. Use the Salt Lake County Treasurer for tax notices and balances. Those are separate from Recorder deed and document records.

Official shortcuts

Salt Lake County property-record links worth bookmarking

Recorder Public Property Search

Free starting point for parcel-linked Recorder records.

Open property search
Recorder Data Services

Document images, deeper research and paid access options.

Open Data Services
Assessor Parcel Search

Find a parcel using owner, address or parcel ID.

Search Assessor records
Recorder Interactive Parcel Map

Visual cadastral and parcel-location research.

Open interactive map
Recorder Document Request

Request ordinary or certified recorded-document copies.

Order a document copy
Treasurer Tax Notice

Use when your real question is the property-tax bill rather than the deed record.

Find a tax notice

Best way to search Salt Lake County property records

For most people, the most efficient Salt Lake County property-record workflow is simple: identify the parcel, verify the property, read the Recorder document list, then open only the specific deeds or instruments you actually need.

Start with the free Salt Lake County Recorder property search when you have an address or parcel number. If you only have an owner’s name, locate the parcel through the Assessor first. Use paid Recorder Data Services only when the free index no longer provides enough detail, and use the Recorder’s copy process when you need a specific ordinary or certified document.

Most importantly, route the question correctly: the Recorder maintains deeds and recorded land documents, the Assessor handles property assessment information, and the Treasurer handles property-tax notices and payments. Knowing that distinction prevents most wasted searches.

Property-record systems, fees and access procedures can change. Use the linked Salt Lake County government resources for the current transaction or request you are completing.

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